Psalm 3–5

Psalm 3^a

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.^z

¹Lord, how many are my foes!

How many rise up against me!

²Many are saying of me,

“God will not deliver him.^a”^b

³But you, Lord, are a shield^b around me,

my glory, the One who lifts my head high.^c

⁴I call out to the Lord,^d

and he answers me from his holy mountain.^e

⁵I lie down and sleep;^f

I wake again,^g because the Lord sustains me.

⁶I will not fear^h though tens of thousands

assail me on every side.ⁱ

⁷Arise,^j Lord!

Deliver me,^k my God!

Strike^l all my enemies on the jaw;

break the teeth^m of the wicked.

⁸From the Lord comes deliverance.ⁿ

May your blessing^o be on your people.

Psalm 4^a

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

¹Answer me^p when I call to you,

my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;^q

have mercy^r on me and hear my prayer.^s

²How long will you people turn my glory^t into shame?^u

How long will you love delusions and seek false gods^b?^cv

³Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant^w for himself;

the Lord hears^x when I call to him.

⁴Tremble and^d do not sin;^y

when you are on your beds,^z

search your hearts and be silent.

⁵Offer the sacrifices of the righteous

and trust in the Lord.^a

⁶Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”

Let the light of your face shine on us.^b

⁷Fill my heart^c with joy^d

when their grain and new wine^e abound.

⁸In peace^f I will lie down and sleep,^g

for you alone, Lord,

make me dwell in safety.^h

Psalm 5^a

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

¹Listenⁱ to my words, Lord,

consider my lament.^j

²Hear my cry for help,^k

my King and my God,^l

for to you I pray.

³In the morning,^m Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait expectantly.ⁿ

⁴For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;

with you, evil people^o are not welcome.

⁵The arrogant^p cannot stand^q

in your presence.

You hate^r all who do wrong;

⁶you destroy those who tell lies.^s

The bloodthirsty and deceitful

you, Lord, detest.

⁷But I, by your great love,

can come into your house;

in reverence^t I bow down^u

toward your holy temple.^v

⁸Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness^w

because of my enemies—

make your way straight^x before me.

⁹Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;

their heart is filled with malice.

Their throat is an open grave;^y

with their tongues they tell lies.^z

¹⁰Declare them guilty, O God!

Let their intrigues be their downfall.

Banish them for their many sins,^a

for they have rebelled^b against you.

¹¹But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.^c

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name^d may rejoice in you.^e

¹²Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;^f

you surround them^g with your favor as with a shield.^h